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Punch-Drunk Love
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Plot
Novelty toilet plunger manufacturer Barry's bland exterior masks permanent tension, exacerbated by the constant nagging of his seven sisters. When his tentative romance with gentle Lena is disrupted and he's menaced by phone sex extortionist his life starts taking some unexpected turns.
Review
Paul Thomas Anderson is such a genius that he has successfully created an anti-Adam Sandler movie that proves to be a highly defining moment for the actor. Sandler's socially inept Barry Egan is superficially a lot like the persona he always parades in his nitwit comedies: nice, innocent and burdened with anger management issues that make him fly off the handle in sudden outbursts of rage.
But this time he's a sad little man with many shades of darkness. He is so tightly buttoned-up, so lonely, so angry, so stressed and so close to despair that it occurs to us that he might do something really extreme and horrible.
Barry doesn't mass-murder his family although, given the earful he gets from his sisters, you wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he did. With his small business struggling and no-one to love, he timidly treats himself to a spot of phone sex, only to be hounded in a nasty extortion racket masterminded by the deeply unpleasant Dean (Anderson-regular Hoffman getting in touch with his inner brute).
Sweet, offbeat Lena (Watson, relishing a calming character who is on an even keel) seems to like him for some reason, however. It's his unwavering determination to pursue her that gives Barry the resolve to use his head. His new-found love also prompts the mouse to roar. One of the joys of this film, although it is unlikely to impress Sandler fans who are wedded to the formulaic chucklesome shtick he turns out in 'Mr. Deeds' or 'Little Nicky', is that you really have no idea what's going to happen next.
It's also bright and perky-looking, in sharp contrast to its protagonist's stormy state of mind. Anderson's direction is simply captivating and exquisitely controlled, with a restless mood and no end of fascinating, beautifully-orchestrated oddness - like the baffling car crash that opens the film, our hero's acquisition of a harmonium, and Barry immersed in one of his ballistic mini-dramas at a pay phone when a parade passes by.
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| Your Reviews |
Average user rating for Punch-Drunk Love |
| Brilliant | |
| Not as good as PTA's other masterworks, but a wonderfully unique, incredible movie nonetheless. Adam Sandler turns in a surprisingly great performance too. ... More | |
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Posted by Mr Gittes at 12:37, 19 March 2013 | Report This Post | |
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| "I have a love in my life." | |
| Intelligent romantic comedy seems a rare find these days, and Punch-Drunk Love is nothing if not the latter. Although decidedly less ambitious than Boogie Nights or Magnolia, Paul Thomas Anderson's charming little film is no less entertaining, and features Adam Sandler in the best performance of his career. ... More | |
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Posted by movienut707 at 16:05, 24 December 2012 | Report This Post | |
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| Recommended Supplementary Drug: Mixed Joint, with Hash and Skunk. Favourite Smokers Moment: The opening title sequence, completely lacking any sort of titles whatsoever. Smoking Tip: Light a joint after arriving to Hawaii. ... More | |
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Posted by Bongalow at 21:11, 05 October 2012 | Report This Post | |
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| BARRY EGAN RULES | |
| ROM-COM MASTERPIECE ... More | |
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Posted by bobbyperu at 23:50, 14 February 2011 | Report This Post | |
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| Punch-drunk love | |
| There was the cock. There was the frogs. There was the milkshake. And here we have the phone scene. Anderson may be the greatest director of all time. He has directed 4 undisputable masterpieces in quick succession. Whilst this may not be his best, it didn't need to be; it simply needed to be different. ... More | |
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Posted by Blue Ryan at 23:01, 16 February 2010 | Report This Post | |
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| Groundbreaking. | |
| Misunderstood and underrated. But aesthetically and stylishly perfect, smart and sexy. A masterpiece. May not be Anderson's "Boogie Nights" or "There Will Be Blood" but, it is still a stunning film. This was a film that deserved even one nomination for the Academy Awards. First, Adam Sandler's performance was impressive, stunning. Second, Emily Watson was emotionally and movingly superb. Third, well, Philip Seymour Hoffman's performance, as almost every performance of him, was great. Fourth, Lu... More | |
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Posted by nc_jj at 02:07, 08 August 2008 | Report This Post | |
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| RE: Punch-Drunk Love | |
| I seem to recall reading that Snderson only got final cut over Magnolia after he promised that his next film would be a 90 minute Adam Sandler romantic comedy. Anyone know if that;s true or not? 4 stars by the way. ... More | |
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Posted by matty_b at 12:31, 02 April 2008 | Report This Post | |
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| RE: Punch-Drunk Love | |
| I'm not sure what the bloody hell I'm supposed to think about Punch-Drunk Love. My honest feeling while I was watching it: I didn't like it. The music drove me crazy and I didn't really care much for the relationship. It was a bit a too arty-farty for me. But then again, most people seem to like it, so I'll give it another try sometime. Just not in the nearest future. I'm actually scared of watching There Will Be Blood now. I loved Boogie Nights and Magnolia, but knowing that TWBB is more ... More | |
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Posted by Dantes Inferno at 14:56, 01 April 2008 | Report This Post | |
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| RE: Punch-Drunk Love | |
| Don't let PDL put you off any other PTA movies. Check out Boogie Nights. It's basically the Goodfellas template in the porn world instead of organised crime. PDL is a real departure for him and I think makes more sense if you've seen his other films. It's the wrong one to start with if you're checking out his movies. ... More | |
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Posted by Wilbert at 21:04, 28 March 2008 | Report This Post | |
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| RE: Punch-Drunk Love | |
| Double-post oops ... More | |
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Posted by Wilbert at 21:02, 28 March 2008 | Report This Post | |
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| RE: Punch-Drunk Love | |
| L: Wilbert L: genejoke one of the worst films I have ever seen, I would like to sue PTA to get back the part of my life I wasted watching such bollocks. The performances were dull the characters retarded, unendearing and even less believable than characters from friends. The direction was as flat as a supermodel and well I really hated it. Anyone who questions my taste is welcome but I fail to see anything good about this movie. For any... More | |
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Posted by genejoke at 20:54, 28 March 2008 | Report This Post | |
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| RE: Punch-Drunk Love | |
| L: genejoke one of the worst films I have ever seen, I would like to sue PTA to get back the part of my life I wasted watching such bollocks. The performances were dull the characters retarded, unendearing and even less believable than characters from friends. The direction was as flat as a supermodel and well I really hated it. Anyone who questions my taste is welcome but I fail to see anything good about this movie. For any backlash about either my intellect or taste, well I en... More | |
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Posted by maffew at 20:13, 27 March 2008 | Report This Post | |
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| RE: Punch-Drunk Love | |
| L: genejoke one of the worst films I have ever seen, I would like to sue PTA to get back the part of my life I wasted watching such bollocks. The performances were dull the characters retarded, unendearing and even less believable than characters from friends. The direction was as flat as a supermodel and well I really hated it. Anyone who questions my taste is welcome but I fail to see anything good about this movie. For any backlash about either my intellect or taste, well I en... More | |
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Posted by Wilbert at 20:10, 27 March 2008 | Report This Post | |
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| RE: Punch-Drunk Love | |
| one of the worst films I have ever seen, I would like to sue PTA to get back the part of my life I wasted watching such bollocks. The performances were dull the characters retarded, unendearing and even less believable than characters from friends. The direction was as flat as a supermodel and well I really hated it. Anyone who questions my taste is welcome but I fail to see anything good about this movie. For any backlash about either my intellect ... More | |
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Posted by genejoke at 18:56, 27 March 2008 | Report This Post | |
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| RE: Punch-Drunk Love | |
| This is one of the best films I've ever seen. It is such a departure for Anderson whom I identify with sprawling films like There Will Be Blood, Magnolia and Boogie Nights. With this he has created a contained film to reflect the main character's outer apperance. It is now my second favourite romantic comedy after The Apartment. I may be wrong but is the fact that Lena and Barry are nearly always wearing Blue and Red respectively a reference to the slide towards order and slide towards chaos? T... More | |
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Posted by paul_ie86 at 22:07, 25 March 2008 | Report This Post | |
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| Hey Panorama! | |
| Haven't seen it yet but I am inspired by your gusto! Will rent it! Put me down for 5 stars aswell! ... More | |
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Posted by tallaght24 at 13:56, 07 February 2008 | Report This Post | |
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| Hey Panorama! | |
| Haven't seen it yet but I am inspired by your gusto! Will rent it! Put me down for 5 stars aswell! ... More | |
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Posted by tallaght24 at 13:56, 07 February 2008 | Report This Post | |
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| What is wrong with this thing!? ... More | |
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Posted by panorama at 21:09, 14 February 2006 | Report This Post | |
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| FUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKK! ... More | |
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Posted by panorama at 21:07, 14 February 2006 | Report This Post | |
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| Agh! ... More | |
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Posted by panorama at 21:06, 14 February 2006 | Report This Post | |
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| I'm determined to get this film five stars! ... More | |
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Posted by panorama at 21:05, 14 February 2006 | Report This Post | |
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| Veins are bursting! ... More | |
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Posted by panorama at 21:05, 14 February 2006 | Report This Post | |
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| Getting annoyed now ... More | |
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Posted by panorama at 21:04, 14 February 2006 | Report This Post | |
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| Bloody hell! ... More | |
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Posted by panorama at 21:04, 14 February 2006 | Report This Post | |
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| Fuck sake! ... More | |
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Posted by panorama at 21:03, 14 February 2006 | Report This Post | |
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